Department for Transport

Roads: Accidents

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will provide guidance to police authorities who close a road following a road traffic accident about the need to post diversion signs to facilitate traffic flow; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Guidance on traffic management, including the provision of diversion signs, following a road traffic accident or in other emergency situations is already provided in The Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8. This document, published by the Department for Transport, is available online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual

Aircraft: Air Conditioning

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 5 March 2015 to Question 225929, if he will discuss with the Civil Aviation Authority the feasibility of making the monitoring of toxins inside aeroplanes mandatory on UK aeroplanes.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 5 March 2015 to Question 225928, what (a) recent discussions he has had and (b) discussions he plans to have with the Civil Aviation Authority on its work reviewing the evidence for the possibility of genetic factors which might influence individual susceptibility to environmental toxins.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 5 March 2015 to Question 225927, if he will raise with his EU counterparts a proposal to establish an EU-wide study into the potential effects of repeated exposure to toxins inside aeroplanes.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department four published reports into cabin air were sent to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their consideration. EASA are responsible for determining the requirement for and specification of any additional monitoring on board commercial aircraft. I understand they have recently launched a Preliminary Cabin Air Measurement Campaign. This campaign will develop the methodology including equipment to be used, to perform cockpit and cabin air measurements. This will be followed by a large scale project of in-flight testing of cabin air quality.

Railway Stations: Disability

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve access for disabled people at National Rail stations.

Claire Perry: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 June 2015.The correct answer should have been:

By the end of this year the Access for All programme, launched in 2006, will have provided step free routes to more than 150 stations and smaller scale improvements at over 1,100. A further £160m has been allocated to extend the programme until 2019 and the 68 stations to benefit from this were announced last year. This is in addition to access improvements delivered by other major projects or the industry itself, which must meet UK and EU standards for accessibility.

Andrew Jones: By the end of this year the Access for All programme, launched in 2006, will have provided step free routes to more than 150 stations and smaller scale improvements at over 1,100. A further £160m has been allocated to extend the programme until 2019 and the 68 stations to benefit from this were announced last year. This is in addition to access improvements delivered by other major projects or the industry itself, which must meet UK and EU standards for accessibility.

Taxis: Disability

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on taxis and private hire vehicles making additional charges for helping wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport is committed to ensuring that everyone has the same access to transport services and opportunities to travel. Both taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) are a particularly valuable form of transport for people with disabilities and I would therefore strongly discourage the practice of making additional charges to assist a disabled passenger. I would remind all Taxi and PHV operators of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

Taxis: Disability

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure taxi and private hire drivers undergo disability awareness training.

Andrew Jones: Although there is no statutory requirement for Taxi and PHV drivers to undertake disability awareness training, the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing in England and Wales recommends local licensing authorities work with operators, drivers and trade bodies in their area to improve drivers’ awareness of the needs of disabled people. This includes encouraging their drivers to undertake disability awareness training. A separate licensing regime regulates taxi and private hire vehicles in Scotland and the Scottish Government publishes its own Best Practice guidance. The Law Commission recently undertook a wide ranging review of taxi and private hire legislation in England and Wales and published their final report and a draft Bill on 23 May 2014, in which it recommended mandatory disability awareness training for drivers. The Government will respond to the report shortly.

Railways: Tickets

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will require train operating companies to offer part-time season tickets as a condition of any future franchise awards.

Andrew Jones: Part-time season tickets do not currently exist on the rail network. The Government is currently working in partnership with the rail industry to develop both the required infrastructure and the details of exactly how such a product should work for passengers. Until this work is completed, it would not be appropriate or cost-effective to specify part-time season tickets in rail franchises.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Community Relations

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to fulfil his Department's responsibilities for the promotion of community cohesion.

Mr Marcus Jones: In the 2013-14 Community Life Survey conducted by Cabinet Office 86 percent of people felt they belonged strongly to Britain. The Department will continue to work with colleagues across government to deliver the conditions for everyone to live and work successfully alongside each other, creating a more integrated community.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to ensure that developments in the Thames Gateway area are sustainable, self-supporting and contribute to community cohesion and integration.

Mr Mark Francois: The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, published on 27 March 2012, sets out that it is the purpose of planning to enable sustainable development. The Framework must be taken into account in both developing Local Plans and taking planning decisions, including in the Thames Gateway. Planning guidance, published on 6 March 2014, set out further advice on delivering planning for sustainable development.

Families: Disadvantaged

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Government spending on the Troubled Families Programme.

Greg Clark: The programme is firmly on track: as of February this year, 90% of families (over 105,000) had been turned around. Updated performance figures will be available shortly. The Department has commissioned a three-year independent evaluation of the Troubled Families programme. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme, including its economic and fiscal benefits. The details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work In March 2015, the Department published a report on the potential fiscal benefits of the Troubled Families programme. The details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefits-of-the-troubled-families-programme-to-the-taxpayer-report

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the rationale was for the Government's decision to introduce a directly-elected mayor in Manchester; and what account was taken in that decision of the result of the referendum on the introduction of a mayor in Manchester in 2012.

James Wharton: The agreement made between the Government and the Leaders of Greater Manchester will lead to a devolution of powers and budgets on a unprecedented scale. This agreement involves providing a city wide metro mayor so that local people can hold whoever exercises this power and spends these budgets to account.The Mayoral model offered in 2012 was completely different and about changing the governance model.

Communities and Local Government: Public Expenditure

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the statement by HM Treasury of 4 June 2015, how he intends to achieve the £230 million savings expected from his Department in 2015-16.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 09 June 2015



The majority of DCLG's savings have already been delivered through the over achievement of receipts from the sale of public land to support housing development. We have also found savings from reducing contingencies in our capital budgets and our European Regional Development Programme. Our savings do not impact any existing commitments or delivery targets.

Right to Buy Scheme

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the financial modelling and analysis carried out by his Department on the extension of the right to buy policy to housing associations.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 8 June, PQ 1059.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

North Korea: Human Rights

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK is able to identify those responsible for human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; and what steps the Government is taking to impose sanctions on North Korean officials similar to the financial sanctions imposed by HM Treasury on people responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran and Ukraine.

Mr Hugo Swire: Since the publication of the UN Commission of Inquiry report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the UK has worked with the EU and our like-minded partners to ensure momentum is maintained on the human rights situation in the DPRK. This includes contributing to strong resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly as well as supporting discussion of DPRK human rights by the UN Security Council in December 2014. We continue to discuss with other governments how the international community can work together to improve human rights in the DPRK. Existing UN and EU sanctions against the DPRK are based upon UN Security Council Resolutions prohibiting the further development of the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Any introduction of sanctions on human rights grounds would require the establishment of a new sanctions regime at UN or EU level. Identifying individuals or entities with the degree of legal certainty required for sanctions listing would be difficult. Existing sanctions against Iran and Russia (as a result of action in Ukraine) are both at the EU level. The UK does not impose unilateral sanctions.

North Korea: Human Rights

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what human rights conditions are attached to the UK's cultural engagement projects inside the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK’s policy of critical engagement enables us to directly express to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the UK and international community’s concerns regarding the DPRK’s nuclear weapons programme and human rights situation. We use educational and cultural projects to encourage the DPRK citizens/population to better understand the outside world and the opportunities that reform, including on human rights, could bring. The UN Commission of Inquiry report on the human rights situation in the DPRK recommended that States and civil society organisations foster opportunities for people-to-people dialogue and contact in areas including culture. While a direct impact on human rights is not a condition for all Foreign and Commonwealth Office engagement projects, we consider carefully the impact of all project activities on the human rights situation in the DPRK when deciding whether or not to undertake a project.

British Overseas Territories: Money Laundering

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what power the Government has to investigate private banks registered in British Overseas Territories for alleged money laundering.

James Duddridge: The Overseas Territories are separate jurisdictions with their own democratically elected Governments, Constitutions and laws under which Territory authorities are responsible for the regulation of banks. It is primarily for the law enforcement authorities of the Territories to deal with any allegations brought to them. UK law enforcement authorities would only become involved if the allegations involved criminality in the United Kingdom.The Caribbean Overseas Territories and Bermuda are active members of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, one of Financial Action Task Force associated bodies. They are subject to evaluations of their anti-money laundering regimes through this body and these assessments are publicly available.The UK and Territory Governments have a shared agenda on the application of high international standards for financial regulation. Most recently at the 2014 Joint Ministerial Council Territory Leaders agreed to work with the UK in raising international standards to tackle money laundering, tax evasion, illicit finance and corruption.

China: Christianity

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese government on the promotion of Christianity in China.

Mr Hugo Swire: Freedom of religion or belief is a human rights priority anchored in the Government’s manifesto. We regularly urge governments around the world to protect the right of all individuals, including Christians, to practise their religion or belief free from persecution or discrimination. We remain concerned by all restrictions to freedom of religion or belief in China, including restrictions against Christianity. We are aware of reports that some church members have been harassed or detained, and that a number of churches in Zhejiang Province in particular have been forced to remove their crosses, close or be destroyed. We raised these, and our broad range of concerns around religious freedom, directly with Chinese officials during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in April this year. We have also highlighted them publicly in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy (www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk).

Armed Conflict: Cultural Heritage

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to raise at (a) the UN and (b) UNESCO (i) the threat of destruction to the city of Palmyra in Syria from ISIS and (ii) ways in which the international community can intervene to protect valuable historical sites.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are deeply concerned about the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq, including the specific threat to Palmyra. The United Kingdom co-sponsored both UN Security Council Resolution 2199 (2015), which condemns the destruction of cultural heritage and requires member states to take measures to prevent the trade in looted antiquities, and UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/281 (28 May 2015), which expresses the outrage of the global community at attacks on cultural heritage as a tactic of war to spread terror and hatred. My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Hammond) discussed the protection of cultural heritage with his counterparts at the meeting of the Global Anti-ISIL Coalition Small Group in Paris on 2 June, at which UNESCO Director-General Ms Irina Bokova was present. Ultimately the only way of safeguarding these valuable historic sites is by defeating ISIL and establishing a lasting peace in both Syria and Iraq.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Saudi Arabian government about the conflict in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We remain in close contact with the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding Yemen. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), discussed it with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on 2 June. He emphasised the importance of moving towards a political process in Yemen and sustained humanitarian access. I also discussed the situation with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister in the margins of the EU-GCC Summit on 24 May.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has received from the Welsh Government about votes at 16 and 17 in the proposed EU referendum.

Mr David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has received no recent representations from the Welsh Government about votes at 16 and 17 in the proposed EU referendum.

Korea: Christianity

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to tackle the persecution of Christians in North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 January 2015 (PQ 220024). We remain concerned at the continuing reports of widespread and systematic state sanctioned human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The DPRK’s stance and lack of international engagement on human rights concerns remains unchanged, with the DPRK maintaining its rejection of the United Nation’s (UN’s) Commission of Inquiry report. We continue to work in international fora to press for action that seriously addresses DPRK’s human rights issues. UK officials raised human rights concerns with the DPRK Embassy in London. We continue to urge the DPRK government to respect its provisions for human rights, as enshrined in the DPRK own constitution, which include “freedom of belief in religion”. Our Embassy in Pyongyang has raised human rights including freedom of religious beliefs with DPRK officials and encouraged the DPRK to implement the recommendations of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, including those on freedom of religion. We look forward to the opening of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' field office in Seoul later this month (as mandated in resolution A/HRC/RES/25/25) and to supporting its work.

Burma: Prisoners

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Burmese counterpart seeking the release of Philip Blackwood, Tun Thurein and Htut Ko Ko Lwin from prison in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to monitor these cases and provide consular support and advice to the New Zealand Embassy in Rangoon on Mr Blackwood’s case. Our Embassy in Rangoon regularly lobbies the Burmese government on issues of fundamental rights including freedom of expression. While we have not raised these cases bilaterally, there will an opportunity to raise freedom of expression cases during the EU Burma Human Rights Dialogue on 18 June.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the press release released by the Prime Minister on 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of the Law Officers' Departments' policies on the family.

Robert Buckland: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials -Family Test GuidanceThe objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.The Law Officers’ Departments have not applied the Test to date, however where applicable they would work with the DWP to embed the Test in policymaking processes.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Paper

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received on the regulatory framework for the UK paper industry.

Anna Soubry: We have received no such representations. However, the paper industry is an important part of the UK’s manufacturing infrastructure. This Government recognises the challenges facing energy-intensive sectors such as paper, and we have taken steps to reduce the cumulative impact of energy and climate change policies on industrial electricity prices this industry faces. Building on the achievement of a £10 billion saving for business from deregulation in the last Parliament, we have also committed to reducing business red tape by a further £10 billion over the next five years.

Department for Business Innovation and Skills: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Anna Soubry: Assessing the impact of the Department’s policies on families is an integral part of policy development in the Department.

Education: Finance

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) nature and (b) proportion of changes to (i) further and (ii) higher education spending will be as a result of reductions of £450 million in his Department's budget.

Nick Boles: The majority of BIS’ £450m savings will be delivered through known underspends and releasing unallocated funding.   Officials in my department are working with the appropriate funding bodies to determine how other savings can best be achieved in line with ministers’ priorities.   Funding for apprenticeships and student maintenance will not be affected.   The underlying principles ensuring that students and young people continue to benefit from one of the best education systems in the world will continue.

Royal Mail

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether Royal Mail staff will be able to buy shares during the sale of the Government's holding.

Anna Soubry: As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale.

Royal Mail

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reason the public will not be able to buy shares in Royal Mail during the sale of the Government's holding; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The public can currently buy Royal Mail shares as they are freely traded on the stock market. As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale.

Royal Mail

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has a target valuation for the sale of the Government's holding in Royal Mail.

Anna Soubry: Our intention is to sell the Government’s remaining stake in Royal Mail during this Parliament. As set out in the Secretary of State’s report to Parliament laid under section 2(2) of the Postal Services Act 2011 on 8 June, the sale of shares will be subject to market conditions and sensitivities and the Government will retain flexibility over the number of shares that are sold at any given time and the exact timing and structure of each sale. One of the primary objectives of the sale will be a financial outcome that represents overall value for money.

Wind Power

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the gross value added contribution to the economy of the onshore wind industry and its supply chain in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.

Anna Soubry: The table contains an estimate for the gross value added to the UK economy from the onshore wind industry and its supply chain between 2010 to 2013, expressed in current prices.  Gross value added (GVA) by onshore wind sector and its supply chainYear2010201120122013GVA (£ million)1,2001,4001,8001,700   Figures have been rounded to the nearest £100 million. They include the contribution from both the direct sector and the indirect activity it generates through the supply chain. The data is sourced from the report “The size and performance of the UK low-carbon economy”, published by the Department in March 2015. It is available online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-carbon-economy-size-and-performance

Further Education: Finance

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the community learning budget will be ring-fenced for the year 2016-17; and when his Department plans to publish details of that budget.

Nick Boles: All spending decisions for 16-17 and beyond will be taken as part of the Spending Review, the timetable for which is yet to be finalised.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Private Military and Security Companies

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 218242, in which country each of the contacts with private security companies was operating; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID has held a total of 8 centrally let contracts with private security companies since 2008. The table below provides the details of where these contracts were operating. CountryNumber of ContractsContracts still activeU.K.31Kenya2 Kenya and Somalia1 India2

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with which ministers and officials of the Burmese government she has spoken to about restrictions on humanitarian access in Rakhine State in the last six months.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The former Home Office Minister of State for Crime Prevention and DFID Parliamentary Under Secretary of State raised restrictions on humanitarian access in Rakhine during her visit in January 2015. I raised this issue repeatedly during my visit in August 2014, I raised it again with the Immigration and Population Minister and Rakhine Chief Minister when they visited London in October 2014. DFID’s Director General for Country Programmes was in Burma 2- 4 June 2015. She visited Rakhine and Naypyidaw and raised the issue of restrictions on humanitarian access with the state authorities in Rakhine, and with senior Ministers of the central Government in Naypyidaw.

Burma: Overseas Aid

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what financial assistance her Department is providing (a) directly and (b) indirectly to the government of Burma.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is providing no financial assistance directly to the government of Burma. Indirect financial assistance happens in two projects. DFID supports a World Bank trust fund to assist the Government’s Public Financial Management (PFM) modernisation programme. Part of the fund is transferred into designated accounts which the Government and Parliament can use to procure goods and services to support the PFM modernisation programme. Use of the money must be approved by the World Bank and must follow World Bank procurement guidelines. DFID also supports the 3MDG health trust fund which uses some of its funds in support of the Government’s national health programmes, but without actual transfer to government bank accounts.

Consultants: Pay

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the maximum daily rate of pay is for consultants (a) directly employed by and (b) employed by contractors working for her Department.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We use private contractors to deliver aid where they can provide the best results and value for taxpayers' money, which is the sensible approach to take. In the past year alone, this has included building treatment centres to defeat Ebola in Sierra Leone, delivering life-saving aid to Syrian refugees, and providing shelter to people who have lost their homes in the Nepal earthquake. A recent Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) report noted that the rates paid by DFID were “highly competitive”. Individual companies set the rates for their contractors.

Department for International Development: Procurement

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many contractors (a) working directly for and (b) on projects funded by her Department were paid more than £400 a day in financial years (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Details of individual contractor payments would require extensive research at a disproportionate cost to the UK taxpayer.

Overseas Aid

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the £1.8 billion earmarked for economic development will be allocated this financial year.

Justine Greening: The £1.8 billion earmarked for Economic Development will be allocated though the comprehensive system of project identification, development and approval used across DFID. This system makes best use of our business case process to ensure we support projects which provide best value for money whilst maximising results. We will also make full use of our new Growth Diagnostics tool to ensure that economic development spend is focused on those areas where it can have maximum impact.

International Labour Organisation

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans she has to increase her Department's engagement with the International Labour Organisation.

Justine Greening: The UK Government works with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on a country by country basis where it can provide effective value for money for British taxpayers. For example, DFID is working with the ILO on a programme to improve working conditions in factories in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza disaster.

Burma: Ethnic Groups

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is giving to the Rohingya people in Rakhine State.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what representations she has made to the government of Burma to increase access for humanitarian aid to Rakhine State.

Justine Greening: DFID has provided over £18m since 2012 making it one of the largest humanitarian donors in Rakhine, providing over 126,000 displaced and conflict-affected people with water and sanitation as well as reducing malnutrition and gender based violence. The UK Government continues to make representations to both the Government of Burma and the state authorities in Rakhine regarding humanitarian access and aid.

Department for Education

Teachers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many STEM teachers remain in the teaching profession (a) two years and (b) five years after their initial qualification.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not available. The Department for Education publishes statistics on teacher retention that show the percentage of all teachers that remain in service after their initial qualification, by length of service. These statistics are not produced by subject of qualification held by teachers or by the subject taught by teachers. The latest information is published online in Table C2 of the additional tables at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013

Teachers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Teach First teachers remain in the teaching profession after (a) two years and (b) five years.

Nick Gibb: Teach First do not retain records for those starting the programme but do retain the data of their programme participants who go on to become ambassadors for the programme. After 2 years, 63% of Teach First ambassadors were still in teaching and after 5 years 56% of ambassadors were still in teaching.

Teachers: Labour Turnover

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Teach First teachers in each (a) subject and (b) parliamentary constituency (i) began teaching and (ii) left the teaching profession in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The first table below shows the number of Teach First teachers in each subject that began teaching in each of the last five years. The number of trainees starting is increasing annually including to STEM subjects, and the geographical spread is widening. Qualified Teacher Status Subject2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Art30000Business Studies2421121414Citizenship2596100Design and Technology310568English160194222255302Geography1915264446History2333394753ICT1215181510Maths125172187262217MFL3345768186Music714131312Primary1881170226344Primary EYFS0001639RE1418151818Science84127187194221Unknown00000   The following table shows the number of Teach First teachers in each subject that left the teaching profession in each of the last five years. Qualified Teacher Status  Subject2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Art22101Business Studies10971419Citizenship189161116Design and Technology14369English496999103345Geography98141353History1216132064ICT8781022Maths406688115333MFL14122232115Music834816Primary5282667285Primary EYFS000019RE91214527Science40648484256Unknown43200   Notes: Data for those in the second table gives a summary of those who left teaching either when on, or after completing, the Teach First Leadership Development Programme. This includes all those who have completed the Teach First programme since the first cohort in 2003. The data also includes those who have left more than once – for example an individual who leaves the profession in one year, returned, and then left the profession once more – for example someone taking career breaks and/or maternity leave.   Please see detailed tables in Appendix 1 (separate excel file) for data on Teach First teachers in each parliamentary constituency that began teaching in each of the last five years as well as those that left the teaching profession in each of the last five years. 



Teach first teachers entering and leaving by PC
(Excel SpreadSheet, 55.52 KB)

School Support Staff Negotiating Body

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.

Nick Gibb: The pay and conditions of school support staff is determined locally. Schools should have flexibility over pay and conditions and the freedom to organise staff and resources in a way that reflects local priorities and needs. It is not the policy of this government to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB). The SSSNB was abolished by the previous government in 2010.

Classroom Assistants

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the number of teaching assistants who are performing a full teaching role in schools in England.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education has not made an assessment of the number of teaching assistants who are performing a full teaching role in schools in England.The Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the specific circumstances in which someone employed in a maintained school other than a qualified teacher can teach; and where teaching assistants can be used to cover teacher absence. These regulations state that teaching assistants may only carry out specified teaching work where they are assisting or supporting the work of a qualified teacher in the school and are under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher as arranged by the headteacher. This ensures that a teacher continues to provide the leading contribution.

Classroom Assistants: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average salary is for teaching assistants in (a) state maintained schools, (b) free schools and (c) academy schools.

Nick Gibb: The salaries of teaching assistants in all state-funded schools are determined locally; factors such as geographical region, school phase, teaching assistants’ relevant experience, level of responsibilities and local labour market conditions will all influence the salary level. The latest available information in the following table does not take any of these factors into account. Average annual salary of teaching assistants in state-funded schools in England, November 2013  Average (mean) salary of full and part-time teaching assistantsNumber of full and part-time teaching assistantsLocal authority maintained schools£16,300259,528Academy schools£16,20059,536Free schools£16,100575All schools£16,300319,733 Source: School Workforce Census, November 2013  Notes:The average salary for each school type has been calculated using the total number of full and part-time teaching assistants for whom salary data was available in those schools.University Technical Colleges and Studio schools are only included in the all school figures.13% (48,400) of teaching assistants have been excluded as their full time equivalent salary is outside the range £12,000- £25,000.

Classroom Assistants: Working Hours

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the number of hours outside contracted hours worked by teaching assistants in (a) Sheffield and (b) England over the last three years.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not collected by the Department for Education.

Teachers: Recruitment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what records her Department keeps on the number of job applications for each advertised teaching position.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not collected by the Department for Education.

Teachers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department assesses demand for teachers in each subject area.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education uses the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) to estimate the demand for the number of qualified teachers in active service within state-funded schools in England each year using a range of assumptions including projections for the numbers of pupils in schools and the number of teachers expected to leave the sector.   To estimate the demand for teachers for specific secondary subjects, the TSM uses the latest data on secondary subject take-up, defined by hours taught, and projected pupil numbers at Key Stages 3 to 5. It also takes into account the different age and gender demographics of teachers for different subjects (which affect the likelihood of teachers of different subjects leaving the profession or retiring) and assumptions on the impacts of subject-specific policy changes.   The department published the TSM’s estimate of teacher demand in part 1 of the TSM used to determine 2015/16 ITT allocations, along with a user guide explaining the methodology in detail, at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-model

Teachers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of levels of supply and demand for qualified teachers in STEM subjects.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education uses the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) to estimate the demand for the number of qualified teachers in active service within state-funded schools in England. To estimate the demand for teachers in specific subjects (including STEM), the TSM uses the latest data on secondary subject take-up and projected pupil numbers at Key Stages 3 to 5. It also accounts for the different age and gender demographics of the teacher stock in each subject (which affect the likelihood of teachers leaving the stock or retiring). We monitor the current supply of teachers using the annual School Workforce Census. The current supply and future demand for qualified teachers as estimated by the 2015/16 TSM along with a user guide explaining the methodology in detail is published online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-supply-model   The department also monitors the current supply of teachers (including STEM teachers) using data on full-time classroom teacher vacancies in secondary schools by subject. In 2013, the vacancy rate was 1.1% for mathematics, 1.0% for the sciences, 0.6% for design and technology, and 1.0% for information technology. Data on vacancies for other subjects and historical vacancy rates for STEM subjects are available in Table 15 in the main tables of the school workforce statistical first release, published online at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013

Teachers

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many qualified STEM teachers there are per (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil in each parliamentary constituency.

Nick Gibb: The information is not available in the format requested.

Languages: Qualifications

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the future of A-levels and GCSEs for (a) Turkish, (b) Greek, (c) Gujarati, (d) Modern Hebrew, (e) Panjabi, (f) Polish, (g) Bengali and (h) other community languages; and if she will outline steps that will be taken in pursuit of that policy.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is currently considering what further support and encouragement can be provided to awarding organisations to enable as wide a range of languages as possible to be maintained at GCSE and A level.   The government has been clear that it wants to see all pupils provided with the opportunity to take a core set of academic subjects, including modern foreign languages. The number of pupils entering for a modern language GCSE has increased by 20% since 2010 due to the introduction of the English Baccalaureate. There are considerable benefits to learning a second language and the government is keen to see the range of languages at GCSE and A level preserved. To this end, the Secretary of State wrote to exam boards during the pre-election period in April to express her concern about their decision to stop awarding qualifications in some languages. She asked awarding organisations to work with Ofqual on the future of these qualifications and committed, if there is no further action, to launching a consultation on how best to secure the future of these qualifications.

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether adopters are assessed for their suitability as permanent guardians of a child after they take a child into their care.

Edward Timpson: Prospective adopters are all assessed as part of the adopter approvals process. The processes involved in approving prospective adopters and post-placement review visits are covered by regulations and explained in the Adoption Statutory Guidance:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-statutory-guidance-2013

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether all permanence options for children in public care receive the same level of post-placement support.

Edward Timpson: There are currently a range of permanence options for children in public care, all of which can deliver good outcomes for individual children.   For many looked-after children, permanence will be secured outside of the care system through a safe return to their family. In April 2015, the government made changes to the care planning regulations and the statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’ to ensure a sharper focus on a safe and successful return home for children where this is the best route to permanence. This included a requirement that the authority appropriately assesses the proposed arrangements for the child and sets out the support that will be provided when the child ceases to be looked-after.   Special guardianship or adoption offer permanence for other groups of children. Local authorities are responsible for core adoption and special guardianship support, including information, advice, guidance, training and financial assistance.   To improve practice where the best permanence option for children is to remain looked-after, the government amended regulations in April 2015 to introduce ‘long term foster care’ as a distinct placement type. Every looked-after child must have a care plan which includes a ‘plan for permanence’ and sets out the support they will receive.

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what figures her Department holds on the break-down rate of (a) adoption arrangements, (b) fostering arrangements and (c) family-based arrangements in each year since 2010.

Edward Timpson: Information on the break-down rate of adoption arrangements, fostering arrangements and family arrangements since 2010, is not held by the Department for Education. Information on the previous permanence placement of children entering care was collected in the SSDA903 data collection for the first time in the year ending 31 March 2014. Figures for 2013-14 are published in Table C1 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2 The research report ‘Beyond the Adoption Order: challenges, interventions and adoption disruption’ was published last year at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beyond-the-adoption-order-challenges-intervention-disruption The study estimated that, over a 12-year period, the post order national disruption rate was 3.2%.

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria must be met for her to direct one or more local authorities to have their adoption service functions carried out by another authority or agency.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education will work with local authorities in order to deliver regional adoption agencies. The department will provide both financial and practical support to help form these new agencies. The Education and Adoption Bill seeks to drive a system-wide change and the department will use its powers where local authorities are unwilling to join regional adoption agencies.

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to assess the funding needs for the (a) measures relating to local authority adoption functions, (b) measures relating to joint arrangements and (c) other measures that her Department plans to include in the Education and Adoption Bill.

Edward Timpson: The move to regional adoption agencies will improve the efficiency of adoption services and increase the scale at which services operate. This is expected to lead to savings for local authorities through efficiency gains as they benefit from economies of scale and through improvements in the timeliness of adoptions. The Department for Education is working with local authorities to encourage voluntary consolidation. The department will assess and evaluate the costs and savings resulting from the measures as part of this work. The department will also provide some financial support for transition to regional adoption agencies.   The Education and Adoption Bill also includes measures to improve the overall quality of education received by children in England. This includes streamlining the process by which failing schools become academies and introducing new powers to support and challenge coasting schools. The department is assessing the funding implications of wider intervention and meeting these costs will be considered as part of the Budget and Spending Review process.

Children in Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what figures her Department holds on the numbers of children in public care by permanence option.

Edward Timpson: Figures relating to children looked after in England are published in the annual Statistical First Release (SFR) at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether foster parents are assessed for their suitability as permanent guardians of a child after they take a child into their care.

Edward Timpson: Permanence provides an underpinning framework for all social work with children and their families. Every looked-after child must have a care plan which includes a ‘plan for permanence’. Permanence can take the form of a successful return to the child’s family, long-term foster care, adoption or special guardianship.   In order to improve practice in instances where the best permanence option for children is to remain looked-after, the government amended regulations in April 2015 to introduce ‘long term foster care’ as a distinct placement type. In cases such as these, statutory guidance is clear that the local authority should assess the ability of the identified foster carer to care for the child (this may be the foster carers currently looking after the child, or new carers who are best able to meet the child’s needs). The statuary guidance is published online at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416720/Stat_Guidance_Permanence_2015.pdf

Adoption

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether regional adoption agencies consider varied permanence options other than adoption when finding a solution for a child in public care.

Edward Timpson: The duty to make a decision about which permanence option to pursue for a particular child will remain with the local authority. If local authorities wish to pursue other permanence services, as well as adoption services, they have the freedom to do so.

Teachers: Qualifications

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many unqualified teachers are teaching in England and Wales.

Nick Gibb: The latest information available, from November 2013, is publicly available in Table 1 published online at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013

Children's Centres

Harry Harpham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to maintain the number of sure start centres in England.

Mr Sam Gyimah: It is up to local authorities to decide how to organise and commission services from children’s centres in their areas. They are best placed to understand local needs and the different ways they can be supported locally. Local authorities must demonstrate that they have devised ways to ensure that services continue; what matters is the quality and impact of services, and how local needs are being supported. We are clear in statutory guidance that there is a presumption against closure, and local authorities have a duty to consult where changes are planned to local children’s centre provision.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of using free school meal eligibility for the purposes of allocating Pupil Premium funding.

Mr Sam Gyimah: In July 2010, the previous Government launched a consultation on introducing a pupil premium. This identified potential indicators for distributing the pupil premium towards economically disadvantaged pupils. These included: current and historic Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility, an indicator based on a pupil’s family being in receipt of out of work tax credits; and area-based measures of deprivation such as Mosaic or Acorn.  In response to the consultation, it was concluded that the best available indicator used to reflect socio-economic disadvantage from 2011-12 onwards would be FSM eligibility, because this is the only current pupil-level indicator; it is familiar to parents, schools and local authorities; it is easily collected and updated annually; and schools will know precisely which of their pupils are eligible. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that pupils who are currently or have recently been eligible for FSM have lower educational outcomes than their peers. In 2011-12, the pupil premium was allocated to schools on the basis of pupils currently FSM eligible; and from April 2012 onwards on the basis of pupils who have been FSM eligible at any point in the last six years. The consultation response is available here: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/t/the%20school%20funding%20settlement%20for%202011%2012%20the%20pupil%20premium%20and%20dedicated%20schools%20grant.pdf

Foster Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the provisions of the Education and Adoption Bill will address the interests of children in fostering and other arrangements.

Edward Timpson: The legislation that the Department for Education is bringing forward in the Education and Adoption Bill relates to adoption. It will ensure that, once the decision is made that adoption is the best outcome for a child, children are found loving homes without delay. If local authorities wish to pursue other permanence services as well as adoption services, they have the freedom to do so.

Department for Education: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has developed comprehensive internal guidance on the Family Test and its application. The Department is confident in the approach it has taken to provide guidance and support to staff in applying the Family Test to new policies.

Free Schools: Standards

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of free schools have been classified as inadequate in England since the introduction of the new inspection descriptors.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of converter academy schools have been classified as inadequate in England since the introduction of the new inspection descriptors.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of sponsored academy schools have been classified as inadequate in England since the introduction of the new inspection descriptors.

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of maintained schools have been classified as inadequate in England since the introduction of the new inspection descriptors.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Hon Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Ministry of Justice

Onley Secure Training Centre

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of conditions and the performance of staff at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre.

Andrew Selous: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital and the Ministry of Justice takes the issues raised in the recent Rainsbrook inspection report extremely seriously. We have taken immediate action to make sure these are being addressed by the operator, and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) are closely monitoring the implementation of an action plan.A further unannounced inspection will take place in the Autumn. If G4S fail to resolve the issues raised, further contractual remedies are available, including contract termination.Contracts for the Medway and Rainsbrook Secure Training Centres are currently being retendered. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

Custodial Treatment: Wales

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people and of what gender in each North Wales police force area committed an offence resulting in immediate custody in each year since 2011; and what the offence type and length of sentence was in each such year.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of sentenced women in each police force area in Wales were sentenced to immediate custody in each year since 2011.

Andrew Selous: Whilst crime is falling, since 2010 offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts taking into account all the circumstances of each case. In order to pass a custodial sentence the court must be satisfied that the offence is so serious that neither a fine alone nor a community order can be justified. The number of people sentenced to immediate custody by gender, offence type and length of sentence, from 2010 to 2014, (the latest information available) in the North Wales police force area, can be viewed in table 1 and table 1A. The proportion of women sentenced to immediate custody within Wales police force area, from 2010 to 2014 (the latest information available), can be viewed in the table 2.



Tables highlighting sentencing information
(Excel SpreadSheet, 114.5 KB)

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Weapons

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) criteria and (b) conditions his Department has placed on the loan of weaponry from the armed forces to other countries in the last year.

Mr Julian Brazier: All loans of defence equipment, including weaponry, are made on the basis of a number of criteria related to our defence priorities including to assist exports, military operations and equipment cooperation for defined purposes. A key condition is ensuring it has no impact on our own operational capability and limiting our liability for damages to equipment and personnel. Such equipment may be loaned on the basis of charging but also on a no-cost basis in support of wider bilateral relations or as part of a reciprocal arrangement. All loans would also consider UK export regulations, as well as other countries' export conditions if the equipment originates, or contains components, from other countries.

Armed Forces: Safety

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2015 to Question 227404, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) DCDS(MilCap)/14/01/10 dated 28 January 2014 and (b) MAA/DG/COMMS/SENIOR MOD ZD743/ZD812 dated 13 December 2013.

Mr Philip Dunne: We are considering whether the documents may be released and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many successful shipborne rolling vertical landings have taken place using the F-35B with (a) an empty weapons load and (b) the maximum weight weapons configuration to date.

Mr Philip Dunne: No shipborne rolling vertical landings have taken place with an F-35B. The plan is to commence this activity in 2018 as part of First of Class Flying Trials. Ahead of these trials there is a range of de-risking work being undertaken which includes aircraft trials and synthetic modelling. The concept has already been demonstrated on the French carrier Charles de Gaulle using a modified Harrier aircraft. The primary approach aid was tested on HMS Illustrious.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many successful night landings of the Joint Strike Fighter F-35B have been conducted by RAF pilots using night vision.

Mr Philip Dunne: The F-35B has not yet entered frontline service with the UK Armed Forces. A single RAF test pilot is at Naval Air Station Patuxant River as part of the multi-national integrated test force. A joint team of RAF and Royal Navy pilots is at Edwards Air Force Base operating as part of the multi-national team undertaking operational test and evaluation. While clearance for operational use of night vision (enhancement) continues in the multi-national test team, UK pilots have completed no night landings using the system. However, UK pilots have completed 20 conventional visual night landings.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Joint Strike Fighter F-35s are allowed to use (a) night vision and (b) the distributed aperture system when landing on an aircraft carrier at night.

Mr Philip Dunne: The F-35 night vision and distributed aperture system capabilities are still under developmental test and have not been cleared for operational use by the US or any other F-35 partner nation when landing on a carrier at night.

Tornado Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the document D/VCDS&2ndPUS/8/1/4 PR11 Tornado CWS Further Work, identified in paragraph 1.4.6.606 of the Report into the Tornado collision of 3 July 2012 undertaken by the Director-General of the Military Aviation Authority.

Mr Philip Dunne: A copy of the document D/VCDS&2ndPUS/8/1/4 PR11 Tornado CWS Further Work is attached.



794 - PR11 Tornado CWS Further Work
(Word Document, 45.5 KB)

Ministry of Defence: Complaints

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian grievance cases against his Department were initiated by contractors or manpower substitutes in each year since 2010; and how many such cases were successful.

Mark Lancaster: The information on the number of formal grievance cases initiated by contractors or manpower substitutes is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is because although the name of the complainant is initially recorded when the grievance is raised, the complainant's details would have to be manually accessed to identify their employment status.

Clyde Naval Base

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Written Statement of 28 May 2015 on safety at HM Naval Base Clyde, if he will place in the Library the written report he received on the investigation into each of the claims made by Able Seaman McNeilly.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 June 2015 to Question number 430. 



Hansard Extract Clyde Naval Base Safety
(Word Document, 27 KB)

Submarines: Irish Sea

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received of submarine activity in the Irish Sea on 15 April 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: Following reports of damage to the fishing vessel KAREN on 15 April 2015, Ministers were advised of the Royal Navy's confidence that no UK submarine was responsible. We do not comment in detail on submarine operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

RAF Boulmer: North East Air Ambulance Service

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times RAF Boulmer has been called on to assist the North East Air Ambulance Service on emergency and search and rescue missions in each of the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt: The number of times RAF Boulmer was called upon to assist the North East Air Ambulance is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.The total number of annual Search and Rescue (SAR) callouts from RAF Boulmer for the last ten years is shown in the table below:  YearRAF Boulmer – SAR Callouts2005144200620620071702008211200921420101932011181201214120131572014160Total1,777

Department for Work and Pensions

Apprentices

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprenticeship places were taken up by people (a) already in employment with the same employer, (b) already in employment with a new employer and (c) who were previously unemployed in each of the last five years.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of those previously unemployed found work as a result of an apprenticeship in the last three years.

Priti Patel: Figures are not available on the numbers of apprenticeships taken up with the same or different employer. Table 1 attached shows the number of apprenticeship starts by individuals aged 19-64 who were in receipt of a DWP benefit in the 6 months prior to starting their learning in the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 academic years (August – July). Statistics are only available for these academic years. In 2012/13, 45,800 individuals started an apprenticeship who were previously in the receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance or in the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group in the 6 months prior to starting their learning. This is an increase from 42,900 in 2011/12 and 33,500 in 2010/11.



Table 1: Apprentices aged 19-64 who claimed benefi
(Word Document, 27 KB)

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Neath constituency have been affected by the under-occupancy penalty in the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The Information requested, for those subject to the removal of spare room subsidy, is not readily available at constituency level (Neath); and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many (a) single-parent households, (b) households with dependent children, (c) households with a disabled member, (d) pensioner households and (e) households with one or more person employed in Camberwell and Peckham constituency are subject to the under-occupancy penalty.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of (a) single-parent households, (b) households with dependent children, (c) households with a disabled member, (d) pensioner households and (e) households with one or more person employed in the London Borough of Southwark are subject to the under-occupancy penalty.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested, for those subject to the removal of the spare room subsidy, is not readily available at constituency level (Camden, Peckham, and Southwark); and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many households in the London Borough of Southwark have downsized as a result of the under-occupancy penalty since April 2013.

Justin Tomlinson: The Information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Parkinson's Disease

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many citizens of other EU member states with Parkinson's disease receive disability living allowance or personal independence payments.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many citizens of other EU member states receive (a) disability living allowance and (b) personal independence payments.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions does not collect information on the EU citizenship status of claimants for Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be affected by the under-occupancy penalty between 2015 and 2020.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available. Our forecasts of Housing Benefit caseload and expenditure do not take an explicit view of the number of people who will be subject to the removal of spare room subsidy. Forecasts are based on the assumption that future expenditure will be in line with what would happen if the proportion of social tenants who have a reduction remains constant, but do not take a view as to whether the associated savings will manifest as actual under-occupancy reductions, or through behavioural change (e.g. moving into work, or into a smaller property).

Social Security Benefits

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many homeless households living in temporary accommodation will be affected by the reduction of the benefit cap.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children living in temporary accommodation will be affected by the reduction of the benefit cap.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in receipt of carer's allowance will be affected by the reduction of the benefit cap.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the annual saving to the public purse net of additional costs incurred by local authorities from reduction of the benefit cap.

Justin Tomlinson: We will publish a full Impact Assessment in due course.

Housing Benefit

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will increase the discretionary housing payments budget when the reduced benefit cap is introduced.

Justin Tomlinson: Details of the policy will be announced in due course.

Department for Work and Pensions: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Priti Patel: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials -  Family Test Guidance The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit. DWP has applied the Test to a number of policies and is also working to embed the Test across Government.

Personal Independence Payment

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost is of (a) a reconsideration of and (b) an appeal against a decision on a personal independence payment.

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost is of (a) a reconsideration of and (b) an appeal against a decision on an employment and support allowance claim.

Justin Tomlinson: The Information requested is not available for Personal Independence Payment. For Employment Support Allowance the average cost of processing a Mandatory Reconsideration is: £108 an appeal to the Department for Work and Pensions is: £135 The average cost of processing an appeal to the Tribunals Service is £214.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Expenditure

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library an itemised breakdown of the saving of £105 million in his Department's budget in the current financial year announced by the Chancellor on 4 June 2015.

Justin Tomlinson: £75m of efficiency savings will be made from the Department’s budget in 2015-16. A further £30m of income will be generated for HMT through an increase in Social Fund debt recoveries.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants are being served by the universal credit digital solution.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to integrate different IT systems being developed for universal credit.

Priti Patel: We are on track with the plan for the delivery of Universal Credit: transforming the Welfare State and, when complete, delivering up to £7bn per year in economic benefits. Universal Credit is now operational in over 40% of jobcentres and will cover the whole country by Spring 2016. The Digital Solution is currently being tested in Sutton and is gradually being widened to take increased volumes in line with the test and learn approach, ensuring safe and secure delivery. Official statistics are not currently available for Sutton given it is a limited, controlled test.

Access to Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to promote the Access to Work scheme.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work is fully promoted within the Disability Confident campaign which was launched by the Prime Minister in July 2013 to help employers discover for themselves the talents and value that disabled people bring to business. To date we have facilitated 7 regional Disability Confident events and 11 constituency based events.We have also specifically promoted the Access to Work Mental Health Service, ensuring that the Fit For Work service will signpost to the Mental Health Service. We are currently updating information and products relating to Access to Work available via Gov.UK.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Expenditure

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional £105 million in-year savings to be delivered by his Department in 2015-16 on delivery of key projects and programmes and its capacity to administer pensions and benefits and deliver employment services.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department will make £75m efficiency savings from its £6.7bn budget in 2015-16. A further £30m of income will be generated for HMT through an increase in Social Fund debt recoveries. The Department remains committed to delivering on all its projects, programmes and services.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dogs: Sales

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) licensed dog breeders and (b) pet shops licensed to sell puppies there are in the UK.

George Eustice: Numbers of licensed dog breeders and pet shops are not recorded centrally but are held separately by each local authority. According to a 2014 survey submitted to Defra by an animal welfare organisation, there are between 50-70 pet shops selling cats and dogs.

Food: Allergies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on allergen requirements and restrictions for restaurants.

George Eustice: Rules on allergen labelling are set out in the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation (1169/2011), and have applied since 13 December 2014.This issue was last discussed at Ministerial level in 2011 when the Regulation was being agreed. It has not been the subject of discussions in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council since then. Officials in Defra and the Food Standards Agency have regular contact with their opposite numbers in other EU Member States to ensure consistent implementation of the new regulation.

Bats: Churches

Mrs Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the application and interpretation of provisions in the Habitats Directive on bats inhabiting church premises in other EU member states.

Rory Stewart: Whilst we do not hold any information about how other Member States apply or interpret the provisions in the Habitats Directive in relation to bats in churches, the Government understands the problems that the presence of bats can cause.To assist churches, Defra has funded research to identify techniques that can be used to deter bats from sensitive areas of churches, the results of which were published in March 2014. English Heritage is now funding a project trialling the techniques identified by this research in several churches to develop a toolkit and advice pack. A bid for Heritage Lottery funding to help pay for the implementation of this toolkit is also being prepared.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.

George Eustice: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test Guidance   The objective of the test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.   Defra is following guidance issued by the Department of Work and Pensions to embed and implement the test in the policymaking process. Where the test identifies impacts on the family, this will be evidenced as part of the formal Impact Assessment.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many UK farmers have had to resubmit their Basic Payment Scheme applications as a result of errors in the information supplied to them on paper based pre-populated forms and maps.

George Eustice: No farmers have had to resubmit their Basic Payment Scheme applications. Farmers were asked to notify the Rural Payment Agency of any changes to their land details as part of the application process.

Flood Control

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the funding for flood protection was provided through (a) her Department's standard partnership funding framework, (b) private sector contributions and (c) other public sector contributions as at 31 March 2015.

Rory Stewart: Between April 2011 and March 2015, £134m of partnership funding contributions were provided towards new flood and coastal erosion management schemes. This represents around 5% of the £2.4bn in Defra funding provided for flood schemes over the same period. Around 25% of the £134m originated from private sector sources and the remainder from the public sector.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will compensate farmers who have already paid agents or third party suppliers to register their Basic Payments Scheme claims online for additional charges incurred by them.

George Eustice: There are many reasons why farmers may choose to use agents or third party suppliers and so we would not look to provide compensation for these business based decisions. We are providing targeted support to make it as easy as possible for both farmers and agents to submit a claim.

Rural Payments Agency

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what underspends were incurred in (a) Capital DEL and (b) Resource DEL in the Rural Payments Agency at end year 2014-15.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency incurred an overspend of £0.5m against its Capital DEL in 2014-15. It incurred an underspend of £2.7m against its Resource DEL.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Rural Payments Agency will cover the costs of any bridging finance from commercial banks for farmers suffering delays in receiving support from the Basic Payments Scheme.

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government will cover the costs of any bridging finance from commercial banks for farmers suffering delays in receiving support from the Basic Payments Scheme.

George Eustice: The RPA expects to pay the vast majority of payments early in the payment window which runs from December to June. As such we do not expect to provide cover for bridging finance from commercial banks for farmers

Home Office

Radicalism

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the planned legislative proposals on tackling extremism and terrorism, what the Government's definition is of extremism.

Karen Bradley: The Government’s definition of extremism, published in the Extremism Task Force report, Tackling Extremism in the UK (2013), is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. It includes calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.

Passports

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time is for receiving a new passport following an application.

James Brokenshire: In May 2015, the average time taken for the processing and delivery of a passport from the United Kingdom was 5 days. The calculation is based on receipt of a fully and accurately completed application form and includes an estimated two days for delivery from HM Passport Office to the customer but excludes delivery time from the customer to HM Passport Office.The equivalent figure for overseas applications is 11 days, which includes an estimated 7 days delivery to customers but excludes the time taken for delivery from the customer to HM Passport Office. These figures exclude time awaiting interview.

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the UK has not ratified the 2011 Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 10 June 2015



The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles to the convention including the criminalisation of forced marriage which was one of the pre-requisites of ratification as required by Article 37. Primary legislation will be needed to comply with the remaining extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before it can be ratified. The UK Government is liaising with the devolved administrations about ratification, including any further legislative steps that may be necessary.

Scotland Office

General Election 2015: Scotland

Ian Blackford: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make an assessment of the implications of the results in Scotland of the General Election for the mandate of the Government.

David Mundell: The election last month was a United Kingdom general election to elect a new United Kingdom Parliament. It took place less than a year after the Scottish people voted decisively to remain members of the United Kingdom.

Postal Services: Scotland

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential costs and benefits to Scotland of operating a separate postal network; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Government’s primary objective in relation to post is to secure a sustainable universal service for the whole of the United Kingdom.All UK postal users and businesses, including those in Scotland, benefit from the continuity of a single universal postal service provided at uniform, affordable prices right across the country. The Government has no plans to change this.

Universities: Student Numbers

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what information his department holds on the number of undergraduates studying at Scottish universities from (a) Scotland (b) the rest of the UK and (c) other EU member states.

Anna Soubry: There were 162,200 undergraduates studying in Scottish Higher Education institutions in the 2013/14 academic year (excluding Open University students). Of these some 115,700 (or 71 per cent) were of Scottish domicile. A further 19,600 students (or 12 per cent) came from other UK countries and 13,800 (or 9 per cent) were from other EU member states.

Voting Rights: Young People

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect on democratic participation of the extension of the franchise in the Scottish independence referendum to 16 and 17 year olds.

David Mundell: It was inspirational to see the level of engagement in Scotland during the independence debate. Following the vote to remain within the United Kingdom, and in line with Smith recommendations, we devolved the power for the Scottish Parliament to legislate to reduce the minimum voting age to 16 at Scottish Parliament and local government elections.

Welfare State: Scotland

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions in welfare spending on child poverty in Scotland.

David Mundell: As a result of the introduction of Universal Credit, we estimate around 3.2 million households across the UK will be better off and up to 300,000 more people will enter work due to improved financial incentives.Based on the latest available statistics, the level of relative child poverty in Scotland has fallen by 12 percentage points since records began in the mid-1990s.

HM Treasury

Working Tax Credit: Overpayments

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints HM Revenue and Customs has received about the decision to outsource the collection of working tax credit overpayments to external debt collection agencies.

Mr David Gauke: Although HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) does not categorise this specific issue within its debt pursuit complaints, a recent sampling exercise identified two cases that contained concerns about the decision to use debt collection agencies to recover tax credit overpayments.   HM Revenue and Customs C began using private sector debt collection agencies (DCAs) to augment in-house debt collection capability in 2009. HMRC recognised the need to do more to tackle the temporary forecast rise in tax credit related debt before the replacement of tax credits by Universal Credit. HMRC's experience working with Debt Collection Agencies showed that they could provide cost effective temporary capacity to do this, especially because doing this would enable HMRC's own collectors to generate extra yield from other types of debt, and that this approach would offer substantially better value than selling the debts.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Stuart McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Royal Bank of Scotland on plans to close further branches; and if he will make a statement.

Stuart McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will take steps to prevent further closure of branches of the Royal Bank of Scotland pending a review of such closure.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government’s shareholding in RBS is managed at arm’s length from HM Treasury by UK Financial Investments. Any decisions relating to the bank’s commercial operations remain a matter for the bank’s independent management team.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Climate Change

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to engage with the Climate Lobby in Westminster on 17 June 2015.

Amber Rudd: The ‘Speak Up for the Love of’ climate lobby on the 17 June will be a significant opportunity for people’s voices to be heard on the issue of climate change.Campaigning matters – as seen through years of campaigning against apartheid, cancelling debt, Make Poverty History, and recent food campaigns, when people come together in the right spirit, change can happen.I welcome next week’s climate lobby – MPs will be listening, and stand ready to act. My noble friend Lord Bourne and I will be engaging with civil society and businesses throughout the day to discuss the UK’s priorities for a climate deal in Paris.Securing a global climate deal at the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference in Paris this year is vital to give a clear signal to businesses and investors that Governments are committed to delivering a global low carbon economy. I am pleased the G7 prioritised an ambitious climate package at this year’s Summit, including strong language on the need for a deal in Paris, finance and future ambition. On 10 June, I too, will reiterate the significance of an ambitious deal during debate of the Opposition Day motion on climate change at the House of Commons.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.

Andrea Leadsom: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdfThe objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.DECC has not applied the Test to date. DECC is working with the DWP to embed the Test in the policymaking process.DECC does publish analysis of the estimated impacts of energy and climate change polices on household energy bills across different types of households showing that for each different household composition, energy bills are estimated to be lower on average as a result of these policies. [1] We will continue to consider the impacts on families where relevant, for example when implementing the fuel poverty strategy.[1] DECC (2014) ‘Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills’, available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-impacts-of-energy-and-climate-change-policies-on-energy-prices-and-bills-2014 Analysis refers to 2020.

Wind Power: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on changes to UK-wide support mechanisms for onshore wind and the effect on onshore wind investment in Scotland.

Andrea Leadsom: We are engaging with the Scottish Government about our plans to deliver our manifesto pledge to end new subsidies for onshore wind and their implications for Scotland.

Energy: Public Opinion

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of people in the UK who support (a) onshore wind, (b) nuclear power and (c) fracking.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department's most recent estimates of UK public attitudes (covering the UK) were published on 28th April 2015 and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/424507/PAT_summary_wave_13.pdf.The results indicate that 65 percent support onshore windfarms. This is lower than the proportion in favour of solar, offshore wind and wave and tidal technologies while 78 percent were in support of renewable energy developments providing direct benefits to the communities in which they are located. An estimated 39 percent support nuclear power compared to 21 percent opposed with 36 percent neither in support nor opposed; and 24 percent support fracking (shale gas) compared to 26 percent opposed with 44 percent neither in support nor opposed.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Telephone Numbering

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to safeguard consumers who wish to keep their current telephone number when switching providers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Consumers can retain their telephone numbers when switching provider through an established process called number porting. Ofcom imposes obligations, through its General Conditions, on all landline and mobile providers to safeguard the interests of consumers wishing to port their numbers. When switching mobile provider, the consumer requests a porting authorisation code (PAC) from the existing provider and gives it to the new provider, allowing the mobile number to be transferred to the new network. Although the losing provider may charge the consumer, there are safeguards: a provider cannot refuse to issue a PAC unless specific circumstances apply (for example, if the consumer cannot adequately prove that he/she is the legitimate account holder). Ofcom requires PACs to be issued immediately over the phone or within two hours by text message. Consumers are entitled to compensation if a number is not ported within one working day from the new provider receiving the PAC. Ofcom can take action against companies that repeatedly breach these rules and has the power to fine providers up to 10% of annual turnover For consumers switching landline providers, the losing provider must allow an active telephone number to be transferred to a new provider, assuming the consumer is staying at the same address. Although gaining providers are not required by Ofcom to accept a request to transfer, it is plainly in their interests to do so and, in most cases, they do accept such requests; if it does accept the request, the gaining provider should make all transfer arrangements. Where consumers move address but remain within the same telephone exchange, providers may allow consumers to retain their telephone numbers but that process is not regulated by Ofcom. If he/she moves outside the local exchange, a consumer will not usually be able to keep the same number on a traditional landline; it is possible, however, to do so by porting the number to a VoIP service for a one-off fee.

Broadcasting: Disability

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will bring forward proposals to require broadcasters to provide subtitles and audio description for on-demand programmes for the benefit of people with sensory loss; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government remains committed to seeing an improvement in the provision of access services for video-on-demand (VoD) services and will continue to monitor progress. If the 2015 ATVOD’s annual survey of VOD Services indicates that significant progress has not been made, then as stated in the Connectivity, Content and Consumers Paper (July 2013) we will consider legislation in 2016.

Department of Health

Diabetes: Health Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in which of the seven demonstrator sites the NHS National Diabetes Prevention Programme began operating.

Jane Ellison: The diabetes prevention programme announced seven demonstrator sites on 12 March 2015:   - Birmingham South and Central Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) - Bradford City CCG - Durham County Council - Herefordshire CCG/Local Authority (LA) - Medway CCG/LA - Salford CCG/LA - Southwark Council and CCG   The demonstrator sites were specifically chosen with different levels of service provision to provide important learning in establishing the National Diabetes Prevention Programme. Six demonstrator sites have existing type 2 diabetes prevention services.   The programme is currently working with the demonstrator sites to jointly develop plans to amend and scale up their services. This will inform the development of the programme.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been identified as possibly diabetic by the NHS Health Check in the last 12 months.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held centrally.   Public Health England (PHE) is currently working with the health & social care information centre to establish a national data standard which will allow uniformed reporting on the NHS Health Check. PHE is also exploring options for the introduction of a national for representational data collection system for the NHS health check programme.

Ovarian Cancer: Drugs

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the decision by the Cancer Drugs Fund not to fund olaparib for patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer.

George Freeman: The operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), including the evaluation of new drugs for potential inclusion in the Fund, is a matter for NHS England’s CDF panel to consider alongside applications for new drugs to be added to the Fund on the basis of the clinical benefit a drug provides in relation to its cost. NHS England’s decision summary for olaparib as a maintenance treatment for relapsed BRCA-mutated high grade ovarian cancer can be found at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cdf-decision-olaparib.pdf   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently consulting on draft guidance on olaparib for use in certain ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers. This consultation is available at:   www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/GID-TAG481/consultation

Ovarian Cancer: Drugs

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to offer personalised medicines to women with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer with limited treatment options.

George Freeman: NHS England provides BRCA testing services for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer.   Following the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) updated clinical guideline on familial breast cancer published in June 2013, NHS England is currently considering whether to widen its offer of testing. NICE is also consulting on its draft technology appraisal guidance on the use of the new PARP inhibiter, olaparib (Lynparza) which is targeted at BRCA positive ovarian cancer. In addition, through initiatives like the 100,000 Genomes Project we will in time provide more insights into personalised treatments for ovarian cancer.

Drugs

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients benefit from scientific research into personalised medicines.

George Freeman: Personalised or ‘precision’ medicine is expected to transform healthcare in the coming decades through more accurate diagnosis leading to better predictions of prognosis and better targeted treatments, fewer side effects and improved medicines efficacy. Improved understanding of the role played by genetics in the development of disease has been directly supported through the 100,000 Genomes Project the main phase of which was launched by the National Health Service in April 2015 and aims to sequence 100,000 whole human genomes for certain rare/inherited diseases and cancers by the end of 2017. In addition, the National Health Service will be working closely with the Precision Medicine Catapult to accelerate the development and adoption of precision medicine throughout the NHS.   Combined with the Early Access to Medicines Scheme and the Accelerated Access Review of IMMT, the Government is actively working to support faster patient access to better targeted and personalised medicines.

Cancer: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on reviewing EU legislation on access to cancer drugs for children.

George Freeman: The European Union Regulation on Paediatric Medicines has been successful in increasing the number of medicines authorised to treat diseases that affect children and it has led to an overall increase in the number of paediatric clinical trials in the United Kingdom and across Europe in many therapeutic areas, including oncology.   However, it is recognised that the system of class waivers for adult conditions, which was intended to prevent unnecessary studies in children, may have acted as a disincentive for the development of medicines to treat rare paediatric cancers. Medicines regulators are aware of this issue and have been taking steps to encourage development of more medicines for paediatric-specific conditions in the oncology field and other therapeutic areas, within the existing legislation.   They are reviewing anti-cancer paediatric investigation plans (PIPs), which are required by the legislation for new medicines, on the basis of mechanism of action and are reviewing the class waivers in this area. UK representatives are strongly supporting this on-going work at a European level to widen access to clinical trials for medicines for rare diseases, including cancer, in children and will continue to press for changes to the system of class waivers in collaboration with European Medicines Agency, which issues decisions on PIPs and other European regulators. The review of the class waiver system is close to completion and publication is expected in the next few months.

General Practitioners: Sheffield

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were waiting to see a GP for more than one week in (a) Sheffield, Heeley constituency and (b) Sheffield in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: Data on waiting times to see a general practitioner is not collected.

Skin Cancer: Drugs

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of recent research by the Institute of Cancer Research into the effect of a genetically created herpes-based virus as a remedy against forms of skin cancer.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the NHS has to use the drug T-Vec for the treatment of skin cancer.

George Freeman: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec) is still undergoing clinical trials and has not yet been licensed for the treatment of malignant melanoma by the regulatory authorities in either the United States or the European Union.   The Department has made no specfic assessment of research findings into its use to treat melanoma.   We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to innovative therapies very seriously, which is why we have launched an Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government later in the year on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies.

Pancreatic Cancer: Drugs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the treatments for pancreatic cancer listed by the Cancer Drugs Fund will continue to be made available to patients on the NHS.

George Freeman: The Cancer Drugs Fund has already helped over 72,000 people in England and this year £340 million will be provided so people get the drugs they need.   The operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), including which drugs remain in the Fund, is a matter for NHS England. The national CDF list is reviewed regularly and includes several treatments for pancreatic cancers such as:   Albumin Bound Paclitaxel (Abraxane) for the first line treatment of advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in combination with gemcitabine; Peptide Receptor Radionucleotide Therapy for the treatment of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours; and Sunitinib (Sutent) for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group: Meetings

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether minutes exist for each meeting of the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group undertaken to date; if he will publish the agendas for and minutes of each such meeting; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that there are minutes for all the meetings of the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group. The minutes of this meeting are currently not published. But, in the context of NHS England’s endeavours to improve transparency and access to documents which include key decisions of public interest they will be reviewing this position.

Clinical Priorities Advisory Group: Membership

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the names and positions are of the members of NHS England's Clinical Priorities Advisory Group.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the names and positions are of the members of NHS England's Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group.

George Freeman: A list of the names and positions of the members of NHS England's Clinical Priorities Advisory Group and NHS England's Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group are attached. 



NHS England's CPAG & SCOG membership 
(Word Document, 16.31 KB)

Clinical Priorities Advisory Group: Meetings

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 10 March 2015 to Question 227026, when he expects NHS England to publish the minutes of all meetings of the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group held to date; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it is committed to publishing the minutes of the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group as soon as possible.

Medical Equipment: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England plans to establish reference prices for medical devices beyond those named in the Commissioning Intentions for 2015-16.

Ben Gummer: The commissioning intentions state NHS England will look at excluded devices and some drugs. The process began with implantable cardiac devices, bone anchored hearing devices and transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and proceeded to cover all excluded devices.

Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with which organisations his Department has discussed the responsibility deal since December 2014.

Jane Ellison: Details of meetings held by Ministers and Permanent Secretaries with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings   Information requested in respect of other officials’ meetings is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Women and Equalities

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to reopen the Access to Elected Office fund in the present Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Dinenage: No decision has been made on the future of the Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund pilot, pending an evaluation which is currently being undertaken.

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government has taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the Access to Elected Office fund between 2010 and 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: The evaluation of the three-year pilot will consider the extent to which the fund removed barriers to disabled people’s participation in public life. The independent Administrator of the Fund is preparing a report with data on demand, the different types of support that applicants required, and the extent to which funding helped them compete on level terms with other candidates. Applicants have been invited to complete an online survey, the results of which are being collated. The report will be completed this month, when final claims have been settled for candidates who stood in the May 2015 General Election and Local Authority elections.

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the (a) average, (b) highest and (c) lowest award made to an individual candidate was by the Access to Elected Office fund between May 2010 and May 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: The average award to applicants was £4,585; the highest award was £39,735 and the lowest award was £130.

Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how much was disbursed to political candidates (a) in each region, (b) of each political party, (c) of each gender and (d) of each ethnic group by the Access to Elected Office fund between May 2010 and May 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: The information can be found in the attached tables.  



Tables containing the requested information
(PDF Document, 87.28 KB)